"You would be daft" - Stephen Warnock urges Leicester City to make big Jamie Vardy call | OneFootball

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy took his Championship goal tally to 18 for the season with a brace in the win over Preston North End on Monday night.

The Foxes' 3-0 win over the Lilywhites secured the Championship title, and gave players and staff the chance to celebrate after winning promotion on Friday night thanks to Leeds' defeat to QPR.

It was another impressive performance by veteran striker Vardy, but this weekend's fixture against Blackburn Rovers could well be his 464th and final appearance for the club, with his contract set to expire at the King Power Stadium this summer.

It remains to be seen if the 37-year-old will be offered fresh terms by the club this summer, but whatever happens, the striker will go down as one of Leicester City's greatest ever players.

Stephen Warnock believes Leicester City should offer Jamie Vardy a new deal

Former England international and current pundit Stephen Warnock believes that the Foxes should offer Jamie Vardy a new deal this summer despite his age.

Speaking to Football League World via NewBettingSites.uk, Warnock said: "It’s a very interesting one because he doesn’t look like slowing down, and what I’ve been impressed with is that he’s accepted he won’t play every game, and often you see players sulk about that, but he’s really embraced it and accepted that.

"I think he accepted that a while ago, and when he stepped away from England, I think he knew that to prolong his career certain sacrifices would have to be made to do that, and I think he’s understood the management this season and taken on board that he’s not going to play every minute, and that there are certain games he’ll be picked for and certain games that he won't, but I think he’s embraced that.

"Obviously, there’s been a lot going on off the pitch in the last couple of years, behind the scenes with his family and his wife, but it hasn’t affected him, which is massively impressive and shows the state of mind and strength of character that he’s got."

Former Liverpool man Warnock believes that Vardy would have plenty to offer Leicester next season, and that he would be willing to play on reduced wages.

He said, “I think you would be daft to get rid of him. He understands the Premier League, he’s got a winning mentality, and he’s good round the dressing room from the people that I’ve spoken to.

“He’s not going to be able to command what he’s on at the moment because of his age, but he’s always spoken so highly about Leicester City and the opportunity they’ve given him, and he’s repaying them.

"As he goes later on into his career, I think there will be an element of ‘listen I’ll play for whatever you’ll give me’. I think it would be a very wise decision to sign him up for another year."

Jamie Vardy is showing no signs of slowing down

The Foxes' captain has scored 20 goals in 36 appearances this season in all competitions, but remarkably, has scored 18 Championship goals in just 17 starts.

This shows that whilst he's not a guaranteed starter anymore, he can still make a huge difference from the bench, and that he can still score plenty of goals.

There's no reason why Vardy can't do the same next season in the Premier League, and as Stephen Warnock pointed out, he seems happy being used as a squad player.

Whilst he's unable to start every game, Vardy has shown no sign of slowing down when it comes to scoring goals, and he doesn't seem ready to finish his career just yet.

Another season, on reduced wages, with Leicester in the Premier League, seems like a fitting way to end his career, and there's no doubt that he could still make an impact from the bench next season in the top-flight.